Eight Nobel laureates join forces in EU climate push

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Press release - February 16, 2012

Eight Nobel Peace Prize laureates have written to European Heads of State and Ministers of the Environment urging them to tackle the most climate polluting sources of transport fuel, notably tar sands.

Nobel peace prize winner Desmond Tutu is among those urging the EU not to compromise on dirty and dangerous tar sands oil. A crucial vote will be made by EU government officials next week.

Oil produced from highly polluting sources, such as tar sands and coal-to-liquids, causes far more climate damaging emissions than conventional oil. Tar sand extraction in Canada has destroyed pristine wilderness areas and has had devastating impacts on local communities and aboriginal groups.

Commenting on the letter, Darek Urbaniak, extractive industries campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said:“Tar sands oil is the dirtiest of all, it emits 23% more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil. Tar sands also do untold damage to the environment and wildlife and threaten indigenous communities around the globe. If the EU doesn't put the proper policies in place it will be equally responsible for the damage caused by tar sands.”

EU government representatives will vote next week (23 February) whether to force fuels such as tar sands to clean up or face an effective ban from the EU market under the bloc’s Fuel Quality Directive.

The law was approved in 2009 but still has to be implemented. Canada, a major tar sands producer, has lobbied extensively against the proposal that is being put to the vote next week, together with oil companies.

Nusa Urbancic of Transport & Environment said:“If Europe doesn’t act now, our addiction to oil is going to turn into a much more damaging dependence on high carbon oil. The science shows that tar sands oil does lead to higher emissions than other sources; the EU's plan to make these fuels clean up is the right one and member states should support it.”

Greenpeace EU transport policy adviser Franziska Achterberg said:“Even oil-obsessed America refused to take the gamble and shelved plans for a tar sands pipeline this winter. The question is whether Europe is prepared to say ‘no’ to the oil lobby and to tar sands, which represent the exact opposite of the clean, climate-friendly future that we urgently need.”

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.